Looking for information about JU52 crash on 27 March 1943 near Béziers

[gilles collaveri]

Dear all,

do you have any information about a JU52/3m from 2./KGr. z.b.V. 400 that crashed on 27 March 1943 near Béziers (Saint Pons) ?

where was it coming from ? what for ?
any data on the crew?

I know that it collided with the ground by accident and it burnt.

Thanks to Matti, I have the names of the crew (see here under) but I now look for the background of that accident;

Thanks for your help

all the best

GC

Crew :
Flugzeugführer Ofw Wirth, Josef, +
Bordfunker Uffz Reile, Heinz, +
Bordmechaniker Uffz Wolber, Oskar, +
Bordschütze Ogfr Keunecke, Heinz, +

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hello Gilles,

Do you check the Volksbund database (http://www.volksbund.de/graebersuche.html) for these men ?

They are listed with the following death places:
Wirth: St.Pons
Reile and Wolber: südl St.Pons (south of St.Pons)
Keunecke:Condades sö. St.Pons (southeast of St.Pons)

The last location being the smallest place is probably the most precise. But you probably have the crash place allready...

[Merlin]

After some month of refreshment at Braunschweig the unit moved to Mons-en-Chaussee on 24.03.43 and the next day to Bordeaux-Merignac. On 27.03.1943 the group was on the move to Istres, where they stayed until late April.

So the accident happened during this transfer flight.

[Seaplanes]

This was Ju 52/3mg8e W.Nr. 7709 that was reported crashed and exploded when striking high grounds near Condedes. Cause not given, only that the crew of four were all killed.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Originally Posted by Seaplanes

This was Ju 52/3mg8e W.Nr. 7709 that was reported crashed and exploded when striking high grounds near Condedes. Cause not given, only that the crew of four were all killed.

Hi Seaplanes, there is no place as Condedes, the real crashplace should be Condades, don't know if the typo is your or the German loss list (probably the latter).

Istres was a major hub for German air transport units and paratroops during spring and summer 1943. For example, the paratroopers dropped as reinforcement in Sicily in mid-July 1943 were coming from here. On 17 August 1943 a B-17 raid from North African bases did a lot of damage here.

[gilles collaveri]

Thanks guys, this is exactly the information I was looking for.

I guess the origin of the crash was bad weather + hills. I shall try to know more by questioning the inhabitants around.

Indeed, the real name is Condades.

Thanks again and have a nice sunday.

GC

[gilles collaveri]

Good afternoon all,

the crash place has been located (some very small part were found on the ground) but no one around could provide information on the crash.

It is a very hilly area : I would be inclined to believe that they met poor weather conditions and they could not see the mountains.

bad luck: Only 10 meters were missing for them to pass by the hill....

If anybody has data on the crew members, I would be delighted;

Flugzeugführer Ofw Wirth, Josef, +
Bordfunker Uffz Reile, Heinz, +
Bordmechaniker Uffz Wolber, Oskar, +
Bordschütze Ogfr Keunecke, Heinz, +

GC